Katie Harman

Katie Harman

Harman (left) signing a USO poster, 2006
Born Katie Marie Harman
(1980-08-18) August 18, 1980
Portland, Oregon, U.S.
Alma mater Portland State University
Occupation
  • Actress
  • singer
Height 5 ft 3 in (1.60 m)[1]
Title
Predecessor Angela Perez Baraquio
Successor Erika Harold
Spouse(s) Tim Ebner (m. 2002)
Children 2
Website http://www.katieharman.com/

Katie Marie Harman Ebner (born August 18, 1980)[2] is an American classical vocalist and actress who is best known as Miss America 2002 and former Miss Oregon 2001.[3] She is the first and only contestant from the Pacific Northwestern United States to hold the title of Miss America.[4]

After her pageant career, Harman has worked as a singer and actress, appearing in various stage productions in the United States, as well as having a guest role on the HBO series Big Love in 2010.

Early life

Harman was born in Portland, Oregon.[5] Her family relocated to North Carolina during her childhood, but returned to Oregon when she was eight years old, settling in Gresham.[5] She graduated from Centennial High School in Gresham in 1999, where she was involved in the drama department.[6][5]

After high school, Harman enrolled at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington, later transferring to Portland State University, where she graduated cum laude with a bachelor's degree in communications.[5][7]

Career

Beginnings; Miss America

In 2001, she was selected as Miss Multnomah County, and then won the Miss Oregon pageant, allowing her to compete for Miss America.[8] She was selected as Miss America the Saturday after the September 11, 2001 attacks. Her first official appearances in the new role of Miss America were at the World Trade Center site and The Pentagon to visit rescue workers, at the request of journalist Janet Langhart Cohen.[9][10]

In her speech, Harman said: "This is an opportunity for Miss America to rally the hopes of the American public. I want to make sure that this tragedy does not bring America down."[11]

Post-Miss America

Since completing her duties as Miss America, she played Kathie in The Student Prince with the Gold Coast Opera in Florida.[5] She also played Barbarina in Le nozze di Figaro. As a vocalist, she has performed with pianist André Watts with the Shreveport Symphony and others. Katie also appeared as herself in an episode of the improvisational comedy show Whose Line Is It Anyway? in 2002.

She delivered the keynote address for Portland State University's 2002 Commencement. This resulted in protests from the Progressive Student Union and other students and faculty who expressed concerns related to her credentials as Miss America and the pageant's promotion of a "sexist" attitude.[12] In response to the controversy, Harman stated: "The Miss America program is offering young women to have a voice. The elements of competition and judging is such that it doesn't concentrate on a woman's appearance. It's about intellect and passion for issues. It has little or nothing to do with the way she looks. I'm 5'3", and I grew up never thinking I could be a supermodel. Miss America embraces women who have inner beauty. If you have joy and hope, it makes you beautiful. This is not a sexist competition in any way.[1]

Harman acted in a production of “The Secret Garden” at the Portland Center for the Performing Arts in 2006 and 2007.[13] In 2007, she released her first music CD, Soul of Love, featuring light classical music.[14] In 2010, she made her acting debut as Miss Provo in an episode of the HBO series Big Love, during which she performed a musical number at a campaign rally.[15]

She has appeared in several television commercials in the Portland metropolitan area, including promotional spots for Portland Rescue Mission.[16] In September 2016, she appeared onstage as Emma in a production of Jekyl & Hyde at the Brunish Theatre, Antoinette Hatfield Hall in Portland.[6]

Personal life

Harman married Oregon Air National Guard pilot Tim Ebner in 2003 and she gave birth to a son Tyler Glen Ebner in 2005.[17] In 2005, Harman moved with her husband and son to Klamath Falls, Oregon where he continues to work for the Oregon Air National Guard.[18] In 2009 she gave birth to a daughter.[7]

Works

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
2002 Whose Line Is It Anyway? Herself 1 episode
2002 Dare to Dream: A Concert for Hope Herself
2010 Big Love Miss Provo Episode: "Sins of the Father"

Discography

Notes

  1. 1 2 "Miss America Katie Harman". USA Today. Talk Today. May 22, 2002. Retrieved February 8, 2017.
  2. "United States Public Records, 1970-2009," database, FamilySearch (23 May 2014), Katie M Ebner; a third party aggregator of publicly available information.
  3. Heinsohn 2008, p. 28.
  4. Jonz 2004, p. 235.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Juillerat, Lee (December 20, 2007). "Basin royalty". The Herald News. Retrieved February 8, 2017.
  6. 1 2 Spitaleri, Ellen (September 29, 2016). "Mouser, Harman Ebner star in 'Jekyll & Hyde'". Pamplin Media. Retrieved February 8, 2017.
  7. 1 2 Hamilton, Shelia (April 22, 2014). "Katie Harman: Oregon’s Miss America". About Face.
  8. Spitznass, Jill (September 28, 2001). "Mom's view of Miss America: down-to-earth, thrifty, driven". Portland Tribune. Retrieved 2007-11-12.
  9. "Miss America History: 2002". MissAmerica.org. Archived from the original on October 22, 2007. Retrieved November 12, 2007.
  10. Cohen 2004, p. 296.
  11. Crotty 2003, p. 45.
  12. "PSU Students Oppose Miss America Speech". KGW and AP. May 15, 2002. Archived from the original on January 11, 2006. Retrieved March 23, 2007.
  13. Owen, Wendy. Young actor finishes second 'Secret Garden'. The Oregonian, November 8, 2007.
  14. Butler, Grant. NW CD Classical Katie Harman. The Oregonian, February 23, 2007.
  15. Stine, Mara (September 23, 2011). "There she was ... Greshams Katie Harman, Miss America 2002". Portland Tribune. Retrieved February 7, 2017.
  16. "Drive Away Hunger". Portland Rescue Mission. Retrieved December 29, 2016.
  17. Woodward, Steve. Here he is, master America: A 'Royal' birth for Oregon. The Oregonian, April 5, 2005.
  18. Briggs, Kara. NEWS UPDATE - Katie Harman, active as ever. The Oregonian, May 7, 2006.
  19. "Katie Harman – Soul of Love". Amazon. Retrieved February 7, 2017.

References

Awards and achievements
Preceded by
Angela Perez Baraquio
Miss America
2002
Succeeded by
Erika Harold
Preceded by
Angela Brink
Miss Oregon
2001
Succeeded by
Heidi Rickey
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